Ross wants seat in front-row
New prop on the Blues block thanks disgraced Richards for saving career
Mike Ross left Harlequins for Leinster in an effort to further his Ireland ambitions
It's been a strange 2009 for Mike Ross. He arrived back on Irish soil this summer, joining Leinster on the back of winning his first international cap against Canada, and with the promise of much more to come from the home of the new Heineken Cup champions.
The club he left, Harlequins, would soon become embroiled in the tawdry saga that was 'bloodgate,' a cheating escapade which, ironically, could easily have upended his new employers' European dreams.
And yet, as he watched his former team-mates' travails accelerate into further farce, he thought of Dean Richards, the now disgraced former head coach of Harlequins, and knew that there was a different figure behind the publicly caricatured "ex-bobby gone bent."
For, without the guiding hand of Richards, the suitably gruff cajoling of an English legend of the pack, Ross might very well have packed in the profession when, armed with just one substitute appearance for his native Munster in April 2006, he contemplated his very future in the sport.
Empathy
So, while few of his colleagues or supporters would share a similar sentiment, Ross cannot but help declare his empathy for someone whose name has become a global emblem for all that is egregious in professional sport.
"He was very good for me," said the Cork-born prop who will turn 30 next Monday. "He gave me a chance to play professionally. I do think that what's happened to him is quite disappointing really. He'd be an asset to any rugby club.
"He made a mistake. People do make mistakes. But they've essentially taken away his livelihood, which I don't think is a very good thing for anybody. It was a bit strange looking at the whole story, because I never really expected it to grow legs as much as it did.
"If you look at the fall-out from it, they tried to change the course of a game and you should be punished and rightly so. But you can argue about the severity of the punishments they've inflicted on various people."
After Ross had made his name with Cork Constitution before joining the Munster Academy, he formed an orderly line behind a vast cast of props -- John Hayes, Marcus Horan, Freddy Pucciariello, Denis Fogarty, Frank Roche, Eugene McGovern, Tim Ryan and Tony Buckley -- but knew deep down that his future would not be in red.
Although he made his one and only Munster appearance in 2006 -- from the bench for Roche in a 27-3, March 3 Magners League defeat away to Ulster -- it seemed that tight-head Ross had resigned himself to joining that silent majority of professional players who slip through the cracks.
"I would like to have been playing professional rugby a bit earlier. But I think I'm lucky with the fact that I got the chance from Quins to play. Because I don't know if I'd have continued otherwise.
"My agent was the same one as Dean Richards', so he got me a trial over there. I played two trial games in April 2006 and they gave me a three-month contract on that basis.
He started his first game against Leicester in the opening month of his first Premiership season. "I got an 18-month extension after that, and then another one-year extension. Deano was quite astute with the contracts in the beginning. He made sure that the three months had elapsed before he gave me another one!"
Hence his sympathy for Richards. After all, it is not an unreasonable assumption that without the Englishman and his English side, Ross would not be a professional today.
"I would say that is fair enough, yes. I'm here now, so I'm just glad I have the opportunity to do what I do."
He holds a biotechnology degree from UCC, but admits he may not have even stayed in Ireland; his wife is American and there seemed to be better job opportunities over there.
His period at Harlequins was a qualified success; despite promising reviews within England, he was consistently ignored by Ireland. Hence the pressing need to return home, although one could understand if he's feeling a sense of déjà vu this campaign -- yet again there is a queue of props blocking his path and he has been benched more often than not.
The Irish selectors also overlooked him for the feature events during November and, with concerns about his ball-carrying abilities masking his work in the tight, it is clear that Ross needs to make an impact sooner rather than later.
"I'm frustrated to a certain extent, but that's the standard of competition we have in the squad. I didn't think it would be an easy task coming over here and nailing down a first team spot. That's how it's proved.
"All I can do is keep playing as well as I can and take any chances I do get. I'm happy enough with my form.
"Like everyone I'd like a bit more game-time, but that will come if you play well.
"It was a tough, tough ask for me to leave Harlequins because they treated me very well when I was over there.
"I had a bit of trouble being released for camps and I knew if I wanted to further my Ireland ambitions I'd need to give myself every opportunity."
If offered the chance to shine against a demoralised Scarlets this weekend, you would feel that Ross needs to grab the occasion by the scruff of the neck and affirm a stirring declaration of intent.
- David Kelly
Irish Independent
